French Quarter residents are frustrated with the city's plans for Bourbon Street

French Quarter residents are frustrated with the city's plans for Bourbon Street

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Updated: 10:23 AM CDT Apr 5, 2017

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WEBVTT EIR VOICESWERE HEARD.>> WE DID NOT SURVEY BUSINESSESON STREETS THAT WE DO NOTPROPOSE TO CHANGE.[YELLING]AUBRY: FROM YELLS.[CHEERING] [APPLAUSE]AUBRY: TO CHEERS.DOZENS PACKED OUT THE ST. JUDECOMMUNITY CENTER TUESDAY NIGHTIN THE FRENCH QUARTER.>> THERE WILL BE OPEN COMMENT ATTHE END OF THE PRESENTATION.AUBRY: AT FIRST, THE CITY WASONLY ALLOWING PEOPLE TO GIVETHEIR OPINIONS THROUGH COMMENTCARDS.THAT DIDN'T LAST. >> IT IS A QUESTION, SO I WOULDLIKE AN ANSWER.AUBRY: THIS IS WHAT THE CITYSAYS BOURBON COULD SOON LOOKLIKE.>> WHEN YOU ARE IN THE QUARTER,YOU ARE PAYING EITHER HIGH RENTOR YOU ARE PAYING HIGH TAXES.NOW THEY ARE LOOKING TO TURNTHIS INTO DISNEY LAND.THAT IS NOT -- THERE AREACTUALLY PEOPLE WHO APPRECIATEWHAT THIS CULTURE OF LOUISIANAIS ALL ABOUT.AUBRY: BOB SEVCIK OWNS A HOME INTHE QUARTER.>> I AM RIGHT IN THE MIDDLEWHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO BLOCKTHINGS OFF.♪AUBRY: IF ALL GOES ACCORDING TOPLAN, THE CITY SAYS THE CHANGESON BOURBON WOULD STRETCH FROMCANAL TO DUMAINE.>> WE ARE LOOKING ATRECONSTRUCTING THE PAVEMENT,REPLACING THE DRAIN LINES, WATERLINES AND POTENTIALLY THE SEWERLINES UNDERNEATH BOURBON STREET.AUBRY: MARK JERNIGAN IS THEDIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR THECITYHE SAYS TO DO ALL OF THAT IT, WILL COST $6 MILLION.>> $4 MILLION FOR THE PAVING ANDTHE DRAINAGE, ANOTHER $2 MILLIONFOR SOME OF THE WATER AND SEWERUTILITIES UNDERNEATH.AUBRY: BUT MANY AT THE MEETINGWONDER IF THE IMPROVEMENTS WILLCOME WITH MORE OF A COST, DAMAGETO THEIR PROPERTY.>> WE ARE GOING TO BE MONITORINGNOISE VIBRATION, WE ARE LOOKINGAT WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURETHE BALCONIES ARE SECURE, WE ARETAKING THOSE STEPS AS PART OFTHE PLAN.AUBRY: MANY WERE OK WITH ASMOOTHER STREET, BUT SAY IFBOURBON CHANGES TO PEDESTRIANTRAFFIC ONLY, BUSINESES WILL-- BUSINESS WILL SUFFER.>> WE DO NOT WANT TO PUT THEMOUT OF BUSINESS, AND THAT ISESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU WOULD BEDOING.AUBRY: AND WHILE FRUSTRATION ISBUILDING, SEVCIK SAYS HE ISKEEPING HIS OPTIONS OPEN.

French Quarter residents are frustrated with the city's plans for Bourbon Street